TONIGHT’S GAMES

UC IRVINE (3-7) at NORTH TEXAS (1-9), 5:30 PST, KUCI-FM-- Not only is this the Anteaters’ Big West conference opener, it’s a chance to see if North Texas has replaced them as the conference’s worst team. The Eagles’ lone victory was at Arkansas Little Rock, 72-70. Still, a brutal schedule may have prepared them for conference play. North Texas has lost to Iowa, Alabama, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Alabama Birmingham, Oklahoma and Georgia Tech, all on the road. Irvine, meanwhile, has lost 21 consecutive road games. Anteater guard Malachi Edmond, who sat out the last game because of a sprained foot, is expected to play.